Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun, and the third largest planet in our solar system – about four times wider than Earth.

Uranus is very cold and windy. It is surrounded by faint rings, and more than two dozen small moons. It rotates at a nearly 90-degree angle from the plane of its orbit. This unique tilt makes Uranus appear to spin on its side.

Only one spacecraft has explored planet Uranus.

In January 1986,Voyager 2 made a close approach to Uranus, snapping images of the planet and some its moons.

Meet the Literary Moons

Uranus has 28 known moons, including five major moons: Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon. The moons are sometimes called the "literary moons" because they are named for Shakespearean characters, along with a couple of the moons being named for characters from the works of Alexander Pope.

Resources for Uranus and Neptune.

Explore a curated collection of resources about ice giants, including activities that can be done at home, as well as videos and animations, images, and posters.

• 40th Anniversary of Uranus Flyby

  The first human-made object to fly past Uranus, Voyager 2 made its closest approach on Jan. 24, 1986, and during its visit discovered 10 new moons, two new rings, and a magnetic field stronger than Saturn's, while returning images and data that still fuel discoveries today. Voyager 2 finished its encounter in February, enroute to a rendezvous with Neptune in 1989.

  Learn More About Voyager 2's Uranus Encounter

• Even decades after Voyager 2 became the first, and so far only, spacecraft to visit Uranus, its data has led to revelations about the ice giant.

  Read ‘Mining Old Data From NASA’s Voyager 2 Solves Several Uranus Mysteries’